Andrew Maclean

Top 5 Popemobiles

1930 Mercedes-Benz Nurburg 460

1930 Mercedes-Benz Nurburg 460

While Mercedes-Benz put the world on wheels in 1889, it wasn’t until 1930 that transport for the Pope became motorised. Daimler presented Pope Pius XI with this Pullman-specification Nurburg 460 – the world’s first car to be powered by a V8 engine and custom built with fine silk carpets and a dove motif on the roof lining – who then trialled it with a one-hour test drive around the Vatican gardens.

1982 Leyland truck

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Following the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in St Peter’s Square in 1981, security was significantly ramped up for the Pontiff. For a tour of the UK and Scotland, this Leyland truck was specially converted to protect the Pope. It is the biggest and, weighing 24 tonnes, is also the heaviest Popemobile ever built. And, despite it being one of the ugliest, it sold for over $70,000 at auction in 2006.

1985 Mercedes-Benz S-Class limousine

Mercedes-Benz renewed its heritage with papal transport with the first fully armoured limousine for Pope John Paul II. The car not only featured a stretched wheelbase, higher roof and an elevated throne, its windows, doors and the retractable sunroof were bulletproof. It was also the last black Popemobile.

Francisco Motors Popemobile

Long after Pope John Paul II’s visit to the Phillipines in 1995, this Popemobile – built on a locally-produced four-wheel-drive by Francisco Motors – still performs miracles. The vehicle’s current caretaker, Lando Cruz, claims it has broken down many times but returns to life after a simple prayer while he sits on the Papal throne in the back. “I am a mechanic myself and I have given up on the Popemobile many times,” he told the Manila Bulletin.

2012 Mercedes ML430

Pope Bendedict XVI will be handing back his company car in a few days; the latest in a long line of Mercedes-Benz four-wheel-drives. This ML430 cost more than $500,000 – almost three times as much as the standard car it is based on – with its bullet-proof glass bubble featuring its own oxygen supply and its armour-plated doors, side panels and undercarriage capable of withstanding bomb blasts. The Pope enters the vehicle through a rear door and his throne is hydraulically lifted so his holiness can wave to everyone in the crowd.

33 comments so far

Hahahahaha I agree. Seriously, who goes "let's analyse the past popemobiles and find the 5 best ones."

Commenter

Sydney

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Date and time

February 28, 2013, 3:50PM

Wonderful competely agree.

But what does God think? The Pope being his representative on Earth - this one retires and then there is another one.

Which Pope IS the real one?

Commenter

wynkyn de worde

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Date and time

February 28, 2013, 4:30PM

I find it ironic that the pope requires bullet proof glass. Does his holiness not trust god to protect him from evil?

Commenter

Glako

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Melbourne

Date and time

February 28, 2013, 12:44PM

a) God helps those who help themselves... b) If the last guy was shot in my job was shot, I'd want bullet proof glass too.

Commenter

FanFan

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Date and time

February 28, 2013, 2:38PM

Of course he does, but he also know that God gave man the skills to invent bullet & bomb proof vehicles.

Commenter

Michael of Eynesbury

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Eynesbury

Date and time

February 28, 2013, 3:20PM

That's just a silly comment. I don't care much for the pope mind you. What you have said is like saying, religious people should not lock their homes, because God will protect you from evil/thieves.

Commenter

the watcher

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Date and time

February 28, 2013, 3:53PM

Sure he has faith regarding protection from evil, but those bullets are inconvenient. Remember last time?

Commenter

Ottodesu

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February 28, 2013, 7:58PM

Glako, the pope admitted at times he felt like God was asleep. So he obviously knows God can and will protect him, but he's just being careful to ensure no one takes a shot whilst God's having an afternoon nanna nap.